32°

Hi,
I'm in Marco Island, Florida but you would never know it walking outside this morning. Dad and I hit the beach for our morning constitutional at 6:30am. It was 32°F. Crazy Canadians that we are. We certainly had the whole place to ourselves. No one else around here was braving the elements at that temperature. Yesterday the wind kept me off the beach. I walked the town main drag for two hours instead. The winds almost lifted me off my feet a couple of times but the temperature wasn't too bad with the sun on my face. I know it's colder and more miserable up north but the people starting to migrate south to get away from this weather are truly bummed out right now.

My favorite parts about walking Marco island beach are the fabulous sea shells and the 'regu;ars' who walk the sands early in the morning. Since the wind has whipped up the Gulf for the last 3 days, the sea shells are everywhere and you have to watch every step so that you don't trip over a conch or smash a sanddollar. I limit my daily take to what ever fits in one hand, other wise my compulsive-obsessive nature would fill a green garbage bag with flotsam every time I hit the beach. The morning 'walkers' are usually all out and everyone had their set walking times. It's very funny how they all know each other and keep track of who shows up on time, who's late for their walk, which one skipped too many days in a row. They seem to keep score or attendance records on one another. I have been coming here regularly enough to almost join the ranks. My dad knows everyone by name and they usually stop and have at least a brief 'hello' while they pass along the shore line. Sarah is a runner so we get a wave. Brent is a serious shell-hound and he passes me a prize from the water some mornings. John is widowed and goes out to talk to his wife, whos' ashes he scattered into the Gulf last year as per her wish. He gives me morning hugs. Dwane has become a family friend and buddy to my dad. We used to live near him and his wife Barbara in Indiana.

The world is a small place when you walk the beach.

xox
m